The Highlander : monthly magazine of the 30th Battalion, N.S.W. Scottish Regiment

Call Number
N 356.10994 HIG
Created/Published
Sydney : 30th Battalion NSW Scottish Regiment, 1935-
Issue
Issue Vol. 1, no. 6 (March 1936)
Images
16
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Text

�f)t JMsijlanber  

MONTHLY MAGAZINE OF THE. 30th BATTALION,  

N.S.W. SCOTTISH REGIMENT.  

HEADQUARTERS, DRILL HALL, MILLER'S POINT, SYDNEY.  

Commanding Officer: Lt.-Col. H. B. TAYLOR, M.C., V.D.  

VOL. 1, No. 6. MARCH, 1936. PRICE, 3d.  

THE STORY OF THE RED HACKLE  

Since 795 the Soldiers of the 42nd have worn red feather or "hackle in their  

bonnets. In this respect they are distinguished from all the other Highland regiments.  

The following <s the story of the "glorious old red hackle," as told by Lieutenant-  

Colonel Wheatley  

In December, 1794, when the 42nd were quartered at Thuyl, they received orders  

for the night of' the Ist to march upon Bommel, distant some miles on the opposite  

side of the river Waal, which they reached by o'clock on the morning of Ist January,  

1795. Here they were joined by number of other regiments and lay on their arms  

until daybreak, when they attacked the French Army, and drove them across the river  

on the ice. The British held their position on the banks of the river until the evening  

of the 3rd, when (the French having been reinforced) partial retreat took place early  

on the morning of the 4th. The British retired upon the village of Geldermaisen,  

where the 42nd, with number of other regiments, halted, and formed up to cover  

the retreat through the village. Two field pieces had been placed in front of the  

village, but the troops with these withdrew, leaving their guns in the possession of  

the French, who commenced dragging them off.  

An A.D.C. (Major Ross) ordered Major Dalrymple, Commander of 44nd, to  

charge with his regiment and re-take the guns. The order was immediately carried  

out, and the guns were dragged in by the men of the 42nd Regiment, casualties being  

one killed and three wounded.  

There was little or no notice taken of this affair at the time, but atter their arrival  

in England, it was rumoured that the 42nd were to get some distinctive badge for  

their conduct in retaking the guns on the 4th of January. The nature of the honour  

was kept profound secret. On the 4th June, 1795, as the regiment, then quartered  

at Royston, Cambridgeshire, was out on parade to fire three rounds in honour of  

His Majesty's birthday, the men were surprised and delighted when large box was  

brought on to the field, and red feather distributed to each soldier. This distinctive  

ornament has ever since adorned the otherwise funereal head-dress of the old BLACK  

WATCH.  

In 1822, from mistaken direction in book of dress for the guidance of the  

army, some of the other Highland regiments concluded that they also had right to  

wear "a red vulture feather." The 42nd, however, remonstrated, and their repre-  

sentations at headquarters called forth the following memorandum  

"FOR OFFICERS COMMANDING HIGHLAND REGIMENTS.  

"Horse Guards,  

"20 August, 1822.  

"The red vulture feather prescribed by the recent regulations for High-  

land Regiments is intended to be used exclusively by the Forty-Second Regi-  

ment other Highland corps will be allowed to continue to wear the same  

description of feather that may have been hitherto in use.  

"H. TORRENS,  

"Adjutant' General.'"  

(Extracted from "A History of the Scottish Highlands, Highland Clans, and  

Highland Regiments, etc.")  

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http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-8133034

APA citation

Australia. Army. New South Wales Scottish Regiment. Battalion, 30th. (1935). The Highlander : monthly magazine of the 30th Battalion, N.S.W. Scottish Regiment Retrieved July 23, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-8133034

MLA citation

Australia. Army. New South Wales Scottish Regiment. Battalion, 30th. The Highlander : monthly magazine of the 30th Battalion, N.S.W. Scottish Regiment Sydney: 30th Battalion NSW Scottish Regiment, 1935. Web. 23 July 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-8133034>

Harvard/Australian citation

Australia. Army. New South Wales Scottish Regiment. Battalion, 30th. 1935, The Highlander : monthly magazine of the 30th Battalion, N.S.W. Scottish Regiment 30th Battalion NSW Scottish Regiment, Sydney viewed 23 July 2025 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-8133034

Wikipedia citation

{{Citation
  | author1=Australia. Army. New South Wales Scottish Regiment. Battalion, 30th.
  | title=The Highlander : monthly magazine of the 30th Battalion, N.S.W. Scottish Regiment.
  | year=1935
  | section=v. : ill. ; 21-22 cm.
  | issue=Vol. 1, no. 6 (March 1936)
  | location=Sydney
  | publisher=30th Battalion NSW Scottish Regiment
  | url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-8133034
  | id=nla.obj-8133034
  | access-date=23 July 2025
  | via=Trove
}}

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